Flush Mount Vibratory System for Utility Roller

ABSTRACT

A compacting apparatus includes a chassis, at least one drum supporting the chassis, a propel motor operatively associated with and adapted to rotate the at least one drum, a vibratory motor connected to the propel motor, a shaft, and an eccentric weight. The propel motor defines an aperture through which the shaft extends, drivably connecting the vibratory motor and the eccentric weight.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to machines and, moreparticularly, to compaction apparatuses and methods for compactingmaterial next to a vertical obstruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Utility roller compactors, and other machines, may be used to compactmaterials such as soil, rock, gravel, sand, asphalt, and the like duringthe construction or maintenance of a road, parking lot, or other area.For example, utility roller compactors may be used to flatten freshasphalt to a consistent thickness for a new road. Typically, utilityroller compactors include a chassis which supports an engine, ahydraulic pump, one or more drums, and an operator cab. A drum mayinclude a hydraulic propel motor that turns the drum with respect to therest of machine, causing the machine to move, and a vibratory systemthat shakes the drum to achieve a well-compacted layer of roadwaymaterial.

During a work cycle, a utility roller compactor may need to compactroadway material directly next to a vertical obstruction. For instance,a parking lot under construction may extend to a vertical obstructionsuch as a curb or a wall of a building with no clearance between thevertical obstruction and the parking lot under construction. Thissituation requires that the utility roller compactor be configured sothat a drum may roll flush along the vertical obstruction with nearlyzero clearance between the vertical obstruction and the drum. Thus, noother part of the utility roller compactor, such as an axle support, maybe further outboard than the end of the drum being run flush against avertical obstruction. Otherwise, any part further outboard than the endof the drum being run flush against a vertical obstruction would collidewith the vertical obstruction, damaging the vertical obstruction orutility roller compactor, or both. Such a configuration may also preventthe roller from accessing all pavement, thus increasing the use ofmanual labor to accomplish same.

Systems and methods of compacting roadway with a utility rollercompactor are available. Such utility roller compactors are oftenarranged with a propel motor and a vibratory system inside one or moredrums. More specifically, the inside of the drum is equipped withstructures to connect the drum to the propel motor and vibratory systemand to connect the propel motor and vibratory system to the chassis. Thestructures transmit torque from the propel motor to the drum, moving theutility roller compactor, and vibration from the vibratory system to thedrum, shaking the drum to achieve consistent compaction.

Existing strategies for providing a utility roller with vibratorycapabilities are well shown by Chisholm in U.S. Pat. No. 8,374,766(hereinafter the '766 patent). FIG. 3 of the '766 patent discloses apropel motor connected to a drum via one bulkhead and a set of twoeccentric weights powered by a vibratory motor connected to the samedrum by two additional bulkheads.

While effective, improvements in the arrangement of the propel motor,vibratory system, drum, and associated linking structures are desired toreduce complexity while still enabling the roller to maneuverimmediately adjacent a vertical obstruction. Furthermore, reducedcomplexity may improve reliability, increase assembly efficiency, andreduce cost.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with one embodiment, a compacting apparatus having atleast one drum is disclosed. The apparatus may include a chassis withfirst and second sides, at least one support structure connected to afirst side, a propel motor, and a vibratory system. The supportstructure may include a support plate connected to a support arm. Thevibratory system may include a vibratory motor, a shaft, and aneccentric weight. The propel motor may define an aperture therethroughconfigured to accept the shaft. The shaft may extend through theaperture from a vibratory motor to an eccentric weight. The drum maydefine a cavity in which the propel motor, the support arm, and thevibratory system are at least partially contained.

In accordance with another embodiment, a roller assembly is disclosed.The roller assembly may include a drum defining a cavity, a support arm,a propel motor, and a vibratory system. The support arm, propel motor,and vibratory system may be inside the cavity. The propel motor maydefine an aperture through it and may be connected to the support armand the drum. The vibratory system may include a shaft connected to avibratory motor, extending through the aperture, and further connectedto an eccentric weight.

In accordance with yet another embodiment, a method for compactingmaterial proximate a vertical obstruction with a compacting apparatus isdisclosed. The method may include configuring the compacting apparatusto include a drum supported from only one side, a propel motor, a shaftpassing through the propel motor, a vibratory motor connected to theshaft at one end, and an eccentric weight connected to the shaft at asecond end. The method may also include driving the compaction apparatusin a direction substantially parallel to the vertical obstruction andsuch that an end of the at least one roller opposite the support arm isimmediately adjacent the vertical obstruction.

These and other aspects and features will become more readily apparentupon reading the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. In addition, althoughvarious features are disclosed in relation to specific exemplaryembodiments, it is understood that the various features may be combinedwith each other, or used alone, with any of the various exemplaryembodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a compacting apparatus, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2. is a schematic representation of the compacting apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a roller assembly of thecompacting apparatus, in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic end view of a compacting apparatus compactingmaterial directly next to a vertical obstruction.

FIG. 5. is a schematic perspective view of a compacting apparatuscompacting material directly next to a vertical obstruction.

While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments thereof willbe shown and described below in detail. The disclosure is not limited tothe specific embodiments disclosed, but instead includes allmodifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and with specific reference to FIG. 1, acompacting apparatus consistent with certain embodiments of the presentdisclosure is generally referred to by reference numeral 100. It is tobe understood that although the compacting apparatus or vibratorycompactor 100 is illustrated as having two drums 102, the compactingapparatus 100 may have any combination of at least one drum 102 with anynumber of additional drums, wheels, or the like. As used herein, theterm “compacting apparatus” refers to a mobile machine that performs adriven operation involving physical compaction of materials associatedwith a particular industry, such as, but not limited to, roadconstruction, landscaping, transportation, etc. It is to be understoodthat the compacting apparatus 100 is shown primarily for illustrativepurposes to assist in disclosing features of various embodiments, andthat FIG. 1 does not depict all of the components of a compactingapparatus 100.

The compacting apparatus 100 may include a chassis 104 supported by thedrums 102, an enclosure 106 with first and second ends 108, 110, and anoperator station 112 in between also carried by the chassis 104. In thedepicted embodiment, a second vibratory drum 114 is provided, but it isto be understood that the compacting apparatus can be manufactured withonly one roller that vibrates and one roller that does not vibrate, tworollers that vibrate, one roller that vibrates and one alternate form oflocomotion such as a tired wheel, or the like. The chassis 104 may beconnected to at least one support plate 116. A support plate 116 maysupport the drum 102 for rotation in one of two directions 118, 120(i.e. clockwise and counterclockwise) relative to the enclosure 106,thereby moving the compacting apparatus 100 alternatively forward andbackward. The linking structures between the support plate 116 and thedrum 102 are described more fully in conjunction with FIG. 2 below.

Turning to FIG. 2, the compacting apparatus 100 may also include firstand second sides 200, 202, a support arm 204, a propel motor 206, and avibratory system 208. The drum 102 may define a cavity 209. The supportarm 204 may extend from the support plate 116, with the drum 102 beingrotatably journaled about the support arm 204, the propel motor 206, andthe vibratory system 208. The propel motor 206 may be operativelyassociated with the support plate 116 and the drum 102. Morespecifically, the propel motor 206 may also be configured to selectivelyturn in one of the two directions 118, 120 relative to the enclosure106, thereby turning the drum 102 and driving the compacting apparatus100. The propel motor 206 may also be linked to the vibratory system208, which may also be configured to selectively turn in one of the twodirections 118, 120 relative to the chassis 104, thereby inducingvibration in the drum 102.

So as to induce such vibration, the vibratory system 208 may include ashaft 210 connected to a vibratory motor 212 and an eccentric weight214. The shaft 210 may pass through the propel motor 206 as by, forexample, an aperture 216. In addition, the vibratory motor 212 may beconnected to the propel motor 206, the importance of which will bedescribed in further detail below and by FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a roller assembly 300 of the compacting apparatus100 is shown to include additional structures that operatively associatethe vibratory system 208, the support arm 204, the drum 102, and thepropel motor 206 together. Starting with the support arm 204, it mayterminate with an isolator flange 302 to which elastomeric isolators 304may be mounted. Another support flange 306 may then be used to flank theelastomeric isolators 304.

As shown, the propel motor 206 may be operatively associated with thesupport flange 306, thus connecting but vibrationally isolating thepropel motor 206 and other structures to be described below from theoverall compacting apparatus 100. The propel motor 206 may also beoperatively associated with a drive flange 308 which may in turn beconnected to the drum 102, thus providing a path for torque transmissionto turn the drum 102. For example, in some embodiments, the drive flange308 may be connected to a center bulkhead flange 310 which is then inturn operatively associated with the drum 102. Providing such anintermediary association between the drive flange 308 and the centerbulkhead flange 310 may be advantageous when assembling a new compactingapparatus 100 or when performing repairs or maintenance.

In order to allow the compacting apparatus 100 to have a flat end 311and thus enable the compacting apparatus 100 to move flush up to a curbor other vertical obstruction, the present disclosure sets forth anumber of unique features. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, not only isthe vibratory motor 212 mounted directly to the propel motor 206 but,the shaft 210 of the vibratory motor 212 may pass directly through thepropel motor 206. This may be accomplished by providing an aperture 216in the propel motor 206 such that the shaft 210 may freely rotate in theaperture 216. More specifically, the shaft 210 may include a first end312 connected to the vibratory motor 212 and an eccentric weightassembly 314 mounted thereto, such as at a second end 316. The eccentricweight assembly 314 may be connected to the shaft 210 by a coupling 318or the like. The coupling 318 is shown to include a transverse fastener320 or bolt, but it is to be understood that any number of mountingmechanisms may be employed such as splines, keys, compression fittings,or the like. Passing the shaft 210 through the propel motor 206 andarranging the vibratory motor 212 and eccentric weight assembly 314 inthis manner may provide a reduction in structural complexity inside thedrum 102 and for the compacting apparatus 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, with a more specific look at the eccentric weightassembly 314, it may include a housing 322 operatively associated withthe coupling 318. The housing 322 may then in turn be operativelyassociated with a collar 324. In some embodiments, the eccentric weight214 may be separate from the collar 324, while in others, the eccentricweight 214 and the collar 324 may be one integral piece.

In addition, the housing 322 and the collar 324 may be configured tocapture an outer race 326 of a bearing 328. In some embodiments, rollingelements 330 in the bearing 328 may be a cylindrical roller type, whilein others, the rolling elements 330 may be a ball type. The outer race326 may then be rotatably associated with an inner race 332 by therolling elements 330, with the inner race 332 being captured between aretention flange 334 and a hub 336.

Through the use of bearing 328 and associated structures, the shaft 210and eccentric weight assembly 314 are supported both vertically andhorizontally. These structures may also permit the vibratory system 208to turn at a rotational speed different than the propel motor 206, driveflange 308, center bulkhead flange 310, and drum 102.

As noted above, the drum 102 may at least partially surround the supportplate 116 and the structures attached to it, for example, theelastomeric isolators 304, the propel motor 206, the vibratory system208, the drive flange 308, and the center bulkhead flange 310. The drum102 may further include an end plate 338 and, in some embodiments, astrengthening flange 340 opposite the end plate 338 so as to provide theaforementioned flat end 311. The axial placement of the end plate 338and the strengthening flange 340 in the drum 102 may result in theformation of lips 342, 344, but further configurations without lips 342,344 are certainly possible.

In order to provide power to the propel motor 206 and vibratory motor212, the roller assembly 300 may further include power supply and returnlines 346, 348, 350, 352. As the propel motor 206 and vibratory motor212 may each be hydrostatically and/or electrically powered in multiplecombinations in various embodiments, the power supply and return lines346, 348, 350, 352 may, in some embodiments, be electrical wiring and/orhydrostatic tubing. In one embodiment, the power supply and return lines346, 348, 350, 352 may be routed through the support plate 116 toprevent potential damage thereto caused by the turning drum 102 whilethe compacting apparatus 100 is in operation. The operation of thecompacting apparatus 100 is more fully described below in conjunctionwith FIG. 4.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In general, the foregoing disclosure finds utility in various industrialapplications, such as, but not limited to, construction and roadbuilding. In particular, the disclosed compacting apparatus rollerassembly may be applied to construction equipment and any other vehicleused to compact a surface such as a roadway, parking lot, or the like.By using the disclosed compacting apparatus and associated rollerassembly, operators may compact a surface immediately adjacent avertical obstruction without damaging the vertical obstruction orcompacting apparatus. It should be noted that the term “immediatelyadjacent” as used herein is intended to mean as close to the verticalobstruction as possible without touching, contacting, or colliding, etc.with the vertical obstruction. As a non-exhaustive example, “immediatelyadjacent” may mean within one inch proximate to the verticalobstruction. Furthermore, a subsequent step to remove or compactmaterial that would have been left uncompacted by a compacting machinewith protruding dual-sided support arms is no longer necessary.Moreover, the reduced internal complexity of compacting apparatus mayincrease reliability and shorten maintenance procedures. The disclosedcompacting apparatus and roller assembly may thus provide safety andcost saving measures.

In general, as noted above, one of the benefits afforded by the presentdisclosure is its ability to compact material immediately adjacent theedge of a vertical obstruction. FIG. 4 attempts to show this in aschematic fashion. More specifically, the compacting apparatus 100 isshown to be operable so as to compact roadway materials 400 and the likedirectly next to a vertical obstruction 402. Because the support plate116 is disposed on only one side 200, an operator may drive thecompacting apparatus 100 on a surface 404 to be compacted so that thedrum 102 nearly touches the vertical obstruction 402. It will beappreciated that the vertical obstruction 402 or wall may be any height,for example a small curb or an existing building. During operation, theoperator may engage the vibratory system 208 inside the drum 102 to aidthe drum 102 in achieving smooth and consistent compaction of roadwaymaterials 400 on the surface 404.

The foregoing understanding is perhaps best depicted in the perspectiveview of FIG. 5. The compacting apparatus 100 thereof is shown beingdriven over the surface 404 with roadway materials 400 to be compactedimmediately adjacent the vertical obstruction 402. The compactingapparatus 100 is able to do so because, among other reasons, the rollerassembly 300 is manufactured to have all components mounted on one endof the roller, thus leaving the opposite flat end 311 completely freeand clear of apparatus that would otherwise hinder approach to thevertical obstruction 402. In a further embodiment, the compactingapparatus 100 may be equipped with at least one mirror 500 to help theoperator drive the compacting apparatus 100 backwards.

While the foregoing detailed description has been given and providedwith respect to certain specific embodiments, it is to be understoodthat the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to suchembodiments, but that the same are provided simply for enablement andbest mode purposes. The breadth and spirit of the present disclosure isbroader than the embodiments specifically disclosed and encompassedwithin the claims appended hereto. Moreover, while some features aredescribed in conjunction with certain specific embodiments, thesefeatures are not limited to use with only the embodiment with which theyare described, but instead may be used together with or separate from,other features disclosed in conjunction with alternate embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A compacting apparatus, comprising: a chassis; atleast one drum supporting the chassis; a propel motor operativelyassociated with the at least one drum and adapted to rotate same, thepropel motor defining an aperture therethrough; a vibratory motorconnected to the propel motor; a shaft drivably extending from thevibratory motor and passing through the propel motor aperture; and aneccentric weight connected to the shaft.
 2. The compacting apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a support plate connected to the chassis,and a support arm connected to the support plate and to the propelmotor.
 3. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising acenter bulkhead connected to the drum and to the propel motor.
 4. Thecompacting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a drive flangedisposed between the center bulkhead and the propel motor.
 5. Thecompacting apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a hub connected tothe center bulkhead.
 6. The compacting apparatus of claim 3, furthercomprising a bearing connected to the center bulkhead and to the shaft,wherein the bearing rotatably connects the center bulkhead and theshaft.
 7. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising atleast one strengthening flange connected to the drum.
 8. The compactingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the propel motor may selectively turn inone of two directions.
 9. The compacting apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe vibratory motor may selectively turn in one of two directions.
 10. Aroller assembly for a compacting apparatus, comprising: a drum defininga cavity; a support arm inside the cavity; a propel motor connected tothe support arm and drivably connected to the drum, the propel motorhaving an aperture therethrough; a vibratory motor connected to thepropel motor; a shaft drivably connected to the vibratory motor andextending through the aperture; and an eccentric weight connected to theshaft.
 11. The roller assembly of claim 10, further comprising at leastone elastomeric isolator disposed between and linking the support armand the propel motor.
 12. The roller assembly of claim 10, furthercomprising a drive flange disposed between and linking the propel motorand the drum, and a bearing connected to the drive flange and configuredto rotatably support the shaft.
 13. The roller assembly of claim 12,further comprising a center bulkhead flange disposed between and linkingthe drive flange and the drum.
 14. The roller assembly of claim 12,further comprising a housing disposed between and linking the eccentricweight and the shaft.
 15. The roller assembly of claim 12, furthercomprising a hub disposed between and linking the drive flange and thebearing, and a retention flange connected to the hub, the hub and theretention flange capturing an inner race of the bearing.
 16. The rollerassembly of claim 14, further comprising a collar disposed between andlinking the eccentric weight and the housing, the collar and the housingcapturing an outer race of the bearing.
 17. A method for compactingmaterial proximate a vertical obstruction with a compacting apparatus,the method comprising; configuring the compacting apparatus to have adrum supported from only one side, a propel motor, a shaft passingthrough the propel motor, a vibratory motor connected to the shaft atone end, and an eccentric weight connected to the shaft at a second end;and driving the compacting apparatus in a direction substantiallyparallel to the vertical obstruction such that an end of the at leastone drum is immediately adjacent to the vertical obstruction.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising a step of vibrating the at leastone drum.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising a step ofrecompacting a previously compacted surface by driving the compactingapparatus in an opposite direction.
 20. The method of claim 19, furtherconfiguring the compacting apparatus to have a center bulkhead connectedto the drum, a hub connected to the center bulkhead, and a cylindricalroller bearing connected to the hub and to the eccentric weight.